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Shortly After Petrobras Adjusts Gasoline and Diesel Prices, Experts Forecast Impact on Food Prices

Written by Ruth Rodrigues
Published on 21/08/2023 at 15:02
A nova política de preços da Petrobras visa trazer mais previsibilidade aos consumidores, os reflexos desse aumento nos preços do diesel e gasolina podem influenciar no valor dos alimentos.
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As The New Pricing Policy Of Petrobras Aims To Bring More Predictability To Consumers And Monitor International Market Variations In A More Controlled Manner, The Reflections Of This Increase In Diesel And Gasoline Prices Continue To Reverberate In The Daily Expenses Of Brazilians And In The Dynamics Of The Food Market.

Last week, Petrobras took measures that had direct repercussions on gasoline and diesel prices, raising concerns about the economic impacts this change will bring to society. According to economist Carlos Eduardo Oliveira Júnior, president of the São Paulo Economists’ Union, increases in fuel prices have a cascading effect that directly affects people’s daily lives, especially in the cost of food.

Price Increases In Fuels Generate Repercussions For Brazilians And The Food Market

The population, in general, is already beginning to feel this impact of rising fuel prices in their wallets.

This affects not only personal transportation but also the transportation of goods and services.

Society as a whole is likely to notice fluctuations in product prices in the coming months, explains Oliveira Júnior.

Petrobras, seeking a new approach to its pricing policy, has stopped linking fuel price variations to the dollar and the international commodities market.

This change allowed for a recent reduction in fuel prices in Brazil.

However, the company announced this week that, due to increases in oil prices, adjustments will be made according to the commercial strategy.

According to economist Luigi Mauri, this new pricing strategy brings more predictability to consumers, as it is not subject to global market volatility.

He points out that this current adjustment may impact some items in the medium term, such as increases in food prices, but it is unlikely to immediately affect public transportation.

Since there is no longer a parity with the international oil barrel and the dollar, consumers have more predictability.

However, a rise is expected in the medium term. By the end of the year, consumers are likely to notice an increase in food prices, for example.

However, public transportation should not be initially affected, as it is highly subsidized.

Therefore, even with increases in fuel prices, there will not be an immediate increase in fares, details Mauri.

Petrobras’ New Pricing Policy Seeks Predictability, But Experts Warn Of Possible Mid-Term Consequences

The announced adjustments have brought significant variations in fuel prices.

Regular gasoline, produced at refineries and supplied to distributors, experienced an average increase of R$ 0.41 per liter, raising its price at the pumps to R$ 2.93, an increase of approximately 16%.

It is important to emphasize that the gasoline sold at the pumps is a mixture composed of 73% regular gasoline and 27% anhydrous ethanol.

In the case of diesel, the average selling price to distributors increased by R$ 0.78, reaching R$ 3.80 per liter, representing an adjustment of 26%.

For the end consumer, diesel is composed of 88% diesel A, produced at refineries, and 12% biodiesel.

In light of these changes, it is clear that adjustments in fuel prices have an impact that goes beyond the fuel tank of vehicles.

The market will closely monitor the consequences of these decisions, especially regarding the potential influence on food prices and overall transportation costs.

Ruth Rodrigues

Formada em Ciências Biológicas pela Universidade do Estado do Rio Grande do Norte (UERN), atua como redatora e divulgadora científica.

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